Stuart Pearce signs for AFC Longford: former England defender joins struggling Gloucestershire side

The ex-England defender has joined struggling AFC Longford as he looks to lift them off the bottom of the table

AFC Longford players regroup 9-1 loss earlier this season (Tom Pilston)

AFC Longford today confirmed their first signing of the January transfer window. The Gloucestershire Northern Senior League Division 2 side are currently languishing bottom of the league having lost all of their 19 games. However, the addition of ex-England and Nottingham Forest legend Stuart Pearce may spark a turnaround to their season.

53-year-old Pearce has joined his first side after a 14 year hiatus which saw him coach Manchester City, England Under-21's and Nottingham Forest. The ex-England captain played 401 games for Nottingham Forest in a 12 year career which saw him win two League Cups and reach an FA Cup final.

Known as 'Psycho' by his team mates, Pearce started his career at non-league Wealdstone and looks forward to reinvigorating non-league football. He told the BBC "I'm looking forward to working with manager Nick Dawe, and helping a group of talented young footballers achieve their dreams and, hopefully transforming both the dressing room confidence, as well as the on-the-pitch performance, and seeing how far they can go up the league."

Longford will be hoping that Pearce can do just that as the side sits rock bottom at the 13th tier of domestic football. In a slow start to the season the side will hope tha the ex-Tottenham and Machester City player can help, at the least, move the sides goal differece away from -190 (one hundred and ninety) and nearer a positive range.

Pearce's debut is expectd to draw hundreds of fans, although it is not known if it will come when Longford go away to play eighth in the leage Winchcombe Town this Saturday. Reflecting on the signing, Longford's manager Nick Dawe has affirmed that Pearce won't be seen differently to any other player. "Stuart knows that there will be no special treatment, he will still need to pay his £5 a game subs."

Pearce becomes the second high profile non-league signing in the last few months following Damien Duff's 2015 deal to join Shamrock Rovers.